Joyce criticises Prime Minister on election timing

Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce has accused Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of being childish for refusing to name the federal election date.

While campaigning in Mr Rudd's Brisbane electorate, Senator Joyce said the uncertainty is reducing business confidence and has contributed to the rising unemployment rate.

He says Mr Rudd should end the conjecture.

"Even have the honest conversation with us say i think it will be in the middle of October, but instead we've got this ridiculous little boy game of I know and you don't, and I'll get back to you later on," he said.

"People just say, ah mate, give up."

Senator Joyce says the Queensland Government is not to blame for the jump in the state's jobless rate.

Queensland's unemployment rate is at its highest level in a decade, climbing to 6.4 per cent.

Senator Joyce says the Federal Government's mining tax and the downturn in resource prices has had a greater impact.

"Now they're starting to understand why we are so sensitive about trying to make sure the mining industry continues," he said.

"From that it's now filtering its way through the economy because uncertainty in that sector brings uncertainty to the people who supply the miners, uncertainty to the people who own the foundries."